American basketball player Cameron Moore dies in Macedonia

SKOPJE, Macedonia -- American basketball player Cameron Moore, who joined Macedonian team AV Ohrid this week, died suddenly during his first practice session, local authorities said Wednesday.

The team's legal representative, Ivo Markoski, told The Associated Press that the 25-year-old Moore arrived late Monday from Venice, Italy. He said the player had been in Ohrid, a tourist resort town in southern Macedonia, only hours before dying Tuesday.

"This is a tragedy. We had no time even to meet him properly," Markoski said. "He was in Ohrid for only 24 hours. We let him rest after arrival and the tragedy occurred on the very first day of training."

Markoski said Moore had signed a preliminary deal with the Ohrid team and had just begun medical tests. An official deal with the team was to be signed after the medical tests were completed.

Ohrid police spokesman Stefan Dimeski confirmed an American basketball player died suddenly late Tuesday, but did not release his identity citing an ongoing forensic investigation into the death. Dimeski said the player collapsed during practice and was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

More details would be available after the forensic examination, he said.

"[We have] never experienced such a tragedy. We are totally shaken by his death," said AV Ohrid team manager Marijan Boshalevski, who said Moore collapsed during the last 15 minutes of practice.

Moore, who went to high school in San Antonio, was a forward for University of Alabama-Birmingham, finishing his career ranked second in school history in double-doubles (28) and blocked shots (137), and fourth in total rebounds (747).

"The UAB family mourns the loss of an outstanding human being whose life was taken away too soon," UAB men's basketball head coach Robert Ehsan said in a statement. "Cameron Moore was one of the first student-athletes I met when I arrived in Birmingham in 2012, and I could immediately sense his passion for Birmingham and UAB Basketball. He played an integral part in the success of so many great Blazer teams, and I know his legacy will live on through everyone associated with UAB."

Moore is one of only three players in school history with more than 1,000 points and 700 rebounds in his career, according to the UAB website.

"The entire Blazer community lost a remarkable man who meant so much to UAB and the basketball program," UAB director of athletics Mark Ingram said. "We will keep Cameron and his loved ones in our thoughts and prayers."